Hypnobabies moms are encouraged to follow their body and push in whatever position feels right to them!Current obstetrical practices during second stage were developed with the attendant, rather than thebirthing mother, in mind. The lithotomy position, with a mother flat on her back and her feet in stirrups,was once the standard position in hospitals for women to give birth and in some hospitals it is still thenorm. This was believed to be the ideal position for doctors to deliver the baby while sitting or standingin attendance. The doctor had easy access to watch, to help with delivery if needed, and to intervenewhen he or she felt it necessary.Whom it wasn't ideal for was the mother who has to push her baby uphill against the force of gravitywhen lying on her back. The common lack of progress despite the mother's strong efforts often led to aforceps delivery of the baby. With the mother's perineum stretched by the positioning of the stirrupsmaking tearing was much more common. Doctors started to believe that episiotomies were needed to"protect" the mother's perineum because of the large number of tears they observed in this position andthe difficulty women had in pushing their babies out while lying prone. Episiotomies became the normand were easy to do for the doctor because of the access to her perineum. Today, episiotomy rates areplummeting as this research confirms that the side effects of unnecessarily cutting the perineum arelong lasting and avoidable in most circumstances. Women revolted against the lithotomy position, andother routine obstetrical practices, in the late 1960's and the semi-sitting posture is now seen in almostall hospital birthing rooms. But is this position any better for mother and baby?You can find the rest of this article HERE.